Faculty Profile

Brad Garner

Brad Garner, Ph.D.

Digital Learning Scholar in Residence

Division of Graduate and Advanced Licensure Programs

Brad Garner is the Digital Learning Scholar in Residence at the Office of Academic Innovation at Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU). He also teaches in the master’s program in psychology. Before entering higher education, his career focused on program and faculty development in P-12 public school settings, where he worked as a classroom teacher, school psychologist, and administrator. Brad has been affiliated with the National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience for over 20 years, serving as editor of The Toolbox digital newsletter. Garner often presents at conferences, workshops, and on college campuses worldwide. Brad also taught on a volunteer basis in Indiana’s largest prison for fifteen years.

He has authored and co-authored several books, including A Brief Guide to Teaching Adult Learners (2009), A Brief Guide to Millennial Learners (2007), and Teaching the First-Year Seminar (2012). His other works include Creating Digital Citizens (2016), Engaging Students as Digital Content Curators (2019), Inclusive Hospitality in Online Learning (2024), Creating the Future You (2025), Improvisation and Spontaneity in Teaching (2026), and Teaching is Caring (2026). Brad is also the content creator for the Teaching is Caring Substack.

PHD

Kent State University

M.S.Ed.

University of Akron

BS
Education

University of Akron , 2007

Books

  • Garner, B. (in preparation). Rigor and Care: Blended, Not Binary. Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom: Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
  • Garner, B. (2026). Teaching is Caring: Moving from Transactions to Transformation. Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom: Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
  • Garner, B. (2026). Improvisation and Spontaneity in Teaching. Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom: Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
  • Garner, B., & Sanderson, C. A. (2025). Creating the Future You: Envision, Pursue, and Persist. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Publishing.
  • Garner, B. (2023). Inclusive Hospitality in Online Teaching: Design and Delivery. Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom: Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
  • Garner, B. (2022). Using Technology for Learning (Digital Resource). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publishing.
  • Garner, B. (2019). Helping Students to Become Digital Content Curators. Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom: Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
  • Garner, B. (2017). Creating Engaged Learners and Digital Citizens. Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom: Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
  • Garner, B. (2012). Teaching in the First-Year Seminar. Columbia, SC: University of South Carolina, National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience.
  • Fleming, C., & Garner, B. (2009). A Brief Guide to Teaching Adult Learners. Marion, IN: Triangle Publishing.
  • Garner, B. (2007). A Brief Guide to Teaching Millennial Learners. Marion, IN: Triangle Publishing.
  • Pattengale, J., Garner, B., & Velthouse, L. (2004). Straight Talk. Marion, IN: Triangle Publishing.
  • Callahan, M., & Garner, B. (1997). Keys to the Workplace. Baltimore, MD: Brookes Publishing Co.
  • McLoughlin, C., Garner, B., & Callahan, M. (1987). Getting Employed, Staying Employed. Baltimore, MD: Brookes Publishing Co.

Chapters/Journal Articles

  • Garner, B. (in press). The Smartest Institutions Develop Digitally Savvy Faculty to Compete in Higher Education. In M. Kayyali (Ed.), Beyond Traditional Universities: The Rise of Smart Institutions.
  • Garner, B. (2026). Teaching Beyond the Curriculum: Using Digital Resources to Strengthen Student Inquiry. Insights in College Transitions, 2(1). Read Article.
  • Garner, B., Bartlett, R., & Snyder, T. (2026). Operationalising Care in Adult Online Learning: The STEPS Conceptual Framework for Translating Theory into Practice. Advances in Online Education: A Peer-Reviewed Journal, 5(1), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.69554/GZEY8475.
  • Garner, B. (2026). Adjunct Faculty in Higher Education: Engage, Equip, and Empower. In Encyclopedia of Higher Education: Volume 9 — Academic Work & Faculty Development.
  • Garner, B. (2026). The Genius Hour. Insights in College Transitions, 1(3). Read Article.
  • Garner, B., & Snyder, T. (2026). Artificial Intelligence as a Catalyst for Curiosity in Teaching, Learning, and Education. The Encyclopedia of Modern Artificial Intelligence, 30. IGI Scientific Publishing.
  • Garner, B., Els, A., & Snyder, T. (2025). Microlearning Strategies: Engaging Online Adult Learners. Advances in Online Education: A Peer-Reviewed Journal, 4(2), 1–18.
  • Garner, B. (2025, January 27). Ikigai: A Strategy to Help Students Explore Their Mission, Passion, Vocation, and Profession. The Teaching Professor. Read Article.
  • Garner, B. (2025, March 5). Curiosity Conversations. Insights for College Transitions. Read Article.
  • Garner, B., Snyder, T., Wise, J., & Walters, R. (2024). From Tradition to Transformation: Academic Librarians as Key Players in Online Education. Advances in Online Education: A Peer-Reviewed Journal, 2(4), 1–16.
  • Garner, B., & Snyder, T. (2022). The Principle of Least Disruptive Online Course Design: Balancing Innovation, Pedagogy, and Student Learning. Advances in Online Education, 1(1), 32–44.
  • Snyder, T., & Garner, B. (2022, January 24). Empathy in Online Education. The Teaching Professor. Read Article.
  • Snyder, T., & Garner, B. (2020, November 18). Engaging Faculty to Connect with Online Learners in Real-Time. EDUCAUSE Review. Read Article.
  • Garner, B. (2019). More Than Machines: Using Digital Tools to Promote Affective Development. In S. Abebe (Ed.), Affective Domain: Instruction, Impediments, and Implications for Assessment (pp. 127–150). Ronkonkoma, NY: Linus Learning.
  • Garner, B. (2018, September 9). Helping Students Develop Digital Content Curation Skills. The Teaching Professor.
  • Garner, B. (2012). Opening the Toolbox: A Newsletter to Help Faculty Gain Enhanced Teaching Skills. In M. Morgan (Ed.), Improving the Student Experience (pp. 186–189). London: Routledge.
  • Garner, B., Millard, B., & Pattengale, J. (2008). First-Year Seminar Experiences and the Exploration of Life Purpose. In W. G. Troxel & M. Cutright (Eds.), Exploring the Evidence: Initiatives in the First College Year (pp. 51–59). Columbia, SC: National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition.
  • Callahan, M., & Garner, B. (1997). Developing Individualized Jobs for Persons with Severe Disabilities. Employment in the Mainstream, 22(2), 16–19.
  • Konnert, W., & Garner, B. (1988). Assessing and Altering the Risk-Taking Behavior: Keys to Superintendency Success. Catalyst for Change, 16(3), 7–10.
  • Garner, B., & Campbell, P. H. (1987). Technology for Persons with Severe Disabilities: Practical and Ethical Considerations. Journal of Special Education, 21(3), 122–132.
  • Garner, B. (1985). The Young Child with Handicaps: Philosophical Beliefs and Pragmatic Actions. In C. McLoughlin & D. Gullo (Eds.), Young Children in Context: Impact of Family and Society on Development. Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas.
  • Garner, B. (1985). Intelligence Testing or Testing Intelligently: Implication for Persons with Handicaps. School Psychology International, 6, 245–250.

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